AXPONA 2025

Fidelity Imports Demos Ruark Gear: British Bite on a Budget

Ken Micallef Apr 22, 2025 First Published: Apr 22, 2025

At AXPONA, Steve Jain’s Fidelity Imports and UK-based Ruark Audio teamed up to present a stylish, musically satisfying system. Founded in 1985 on England’s south coast, Ruark is known for combining classic British design with forward-thinking engineering.

AXPONA 2025

Sierra Sound, Aesthetix, AMG, Benz, ViV, Connected Fidelity: A Vinyl Victory Lap

Ken Micallef Apr 22, 2025 First Published: Apr 22, 2025

Sierra Sound’s Michael Fajen assembled a system that stopped more than a few showgoers in their tracks—built around not one but two turntables.

AXPONA 2025

Vinyl With a Vengeance: Stereo Haven, Toffco, Well Tempered, Dynavector, Jadis, and Reynaud Bring It On

Ken Micallef Apr 22, 2025 First Published: Apr 22, 2025

Tony Santos of Stereo Haven and Mike Pranka of Toffco brought a Well Tempered Lab turntable—a common sight in rooms with standout analog sound. In room 624, the Well Tempered Lab Amadeus, for which Pranka serves as US distributor, delivered a sense of musical ease and warmth.

AXPONA 2025

A Room With a Vu: TriangleArt Spins Gold

Ken Micallef Apr 22, 2025 First Published: Apr 22, 2025

Tom Vu founded TriangleArt in 1999, and he’s not about to let up now.

AXPONA 2025

Saturday Audio Exchange, Monitor Audio, McIntosh, and AudioQuest: Style from Mars, Sound from Binghamton

Ken Micallef Apr 19, 2025 First Published: Apr 19, 2025

With the debut of the futuristic Hyphn loudspeakers ($95,000/pair), Monitor Audio and Chicago’s Saturday Audio Exchange made an unmissable statement.

AXPONA 2025

Estelon, Vitus, Sonorus, Taiko, Crystal Cable, ART, and Ekustik: A New Kind of Clarity

Jason Victor Serinus Apr 19, 2025 First Published: Apr 19, 2025

Aldo Filippelli of Luxury Audio Group brought essentially the same system he showed at the Florida Audio Expo, where Mark Henninger and Julie Mullins filed a comprehensive video report. Familiar or not, the performance was still superb.

AXPONA 2025

This Tubed Line/Phono Stage Has an IP Address: Manley Labs Goes Remote

Mark Henninger Apr 19, 2025 First Published: Apr 19, 2025

At AXPONA 2025’s Ear Gear Experience, Manley Labs president EveAnna Manley unveiled a long-rumored project: the company’s Precision Line and Phono Stage. Designed to marry tube tradition with modern functionality, the unit houses 10 triodes powered by Manley’s proprietary switch-mode supply. Behind its sculpted faceplate are six inputs, each assignable for line-level or RIAA-equalized signals, offering up to 75dB of gain.

AXPONA 2025

Do-It-All, Done Right? Arcam’s SA45 Makes the Case

Mark Henninger Apr 18, 2025 First Published: Apr 18, 2025

Arcam’s $4999 SA45 aims to prove that “do-it-all” and “high-end” can coexist. For the first time at a show, Jim Garrett, a senior director of product strategy & planning at Harman International, gave a live demo of the British brand’s SA45 streaming integrated amplifier.

Watch Mark Henninger’s interview with Jim Garrett.

AXPONA 2025

DeVore Fidelity, Leben, Well Tempered Lab, Box Furniture: Vinyl, Intention, and the Art of the Demo

Ken Micallef Apr 18, 2025 First Published: Apr 18, 2025

John DeVore brings more than music to his rooms: he brings thoughtfulness, a sense of discovery, and superbly curated recordings.

AXPONA 2025

Jeffrey Catalano’s Show-Stopping System: DaVa Soul, Fuuga, Red Sparrow, Miyajima, TW-Acustic, Alieno, Cessaro, Stein, Codia, Silent Running, Shun Mook, ADD-Powr

Ken Micallef Apr 18, 2025

High Water Sound’s Jeffrey Catalano could give a master class in room setup. A veteran of hundreds of audio shows, he not only presents exceptional-sounding rooms but also curates adventurous vinyl selections. I invariably leave his room with music titles scribbled in my notebook, like recipes for marvelous dishes.